Gucci has launched its first ever high jewellery collection, which will be sold exclusively at the newly opened dedicated high jewellery boutique at 16, Place Vendôme, in Paris.

Designed by Creative Director Alessandro Michele, this first ever fine and high jewellery boutique will showcase Hortus Deliciarum, featuring motifs that are meaningful to the designer himself. Comprising over 200 pieces, most of which are one-of-a-kind in nature, consist of ethically sourced gemstones and unique stones that Michele himself personally sourced, set in what he refers to as “dis-cordant symmetry” which are intentionally mismatched, to channel the spirituality of imperfection.

Hortus Deliciarum revolves around three themes: classical emblems of eternal love featuring Rococo- Baroque- and Georgian- inspired emblems such as crucifixes adorned with floral motifs, chandelier earrings, tiaras, and crest of hearts rings; the majesty of the animal kingdom with lions, tigers, Ouroboros serpents and the Dionysus, (no surprises here because we all know how much Michele loves his “Eden” and all these have featured prominently in his RTW collections); and finally, perhaps the most ostentatious of all, singular solitaires that have been redefined with maximalist allure (read: OTT). For a taste of the collection, see main image on top 😉

Unlike the lush pink interiors of Gucci’s revamped boutiques worldwide, the high jewellery boutique was designed with the intention of making the jewels stand out. The kaleidoscopic black marquita and white thassos marble flooring hypnotically draws us into a world where the fine jewellery, displayed in ebonised wood cabinets lined with verdeacquaaqua satin and antique mirrors, where the jewels take centrestage. With the almost totally monochromatic interior, it is the perfect backdrop where coloured pink gemstones in a myriad of colours like honey-hued imperial topaz, blush rose topaz, velvety green tourmaline, mandarin garnets, white diamonds, pink and blue sapphires, Paraiba tourmalines, parelescent opals, and yellow beryls, all of which evoke a mythical garden, are perfectly juxtaposed.

Images courtesy of Gucci